Effectiveness of Foot Massage on Pain among Patients Who Underwent Abdominal Surgery

Hariprasath Pandurangan, Sham Oommen John

Abstract

AbstractPain after surgery is common, normal and to be expected. Steps can be taken to minimize or eliminate pain, but pain that gets worse, especially if other symptoms are present, can be a sign of a surgical complication. Patients routinely report mild to moderate pain even though pain medications have been administered. Complimentary strategies based on sound research findings are needed to supplement pharmacological management. Foot massage has the potential to reduce pain. The present study aims at assessment of effectiveness of foot massage on pain among patients who underwent abdominal surgery. This was a quasi-experimental study conducted among patients who underwent abdominal surgery. A total of 60 samples were selected by using non-probability purposive sampling technique, out of which, 30 for experimental group and 30 for control group. Data was collected by using numerical rating scale for pain. The mean post-test score of post-operative pain (1.57) with S.D. (0.57) of experimental group is lesser than mean post-test score of post-operative pain (3.17) with S.D. (0.79) of control group among who underwent abdominal surgery. This study indicates that foot massage is a simple non-pharmacological method had been effective in improving post-operative pain of patients who underwent abdominal surgery. So, this cost-effective method can be used effectively for the management of post-operative pain.Keywords: Foot massage, post-operative pain, abdominal surgery